From the Old Louisville Information Center building, head south
and cross Magnolia Avenue to the West side of St James Court, which is
where our tour Begins. Continue south on St. James Court to
Belgravia Court. See
area map.

The Southern Exposition of 1883 (picture)
covered approximately 40 acres, which included what is now Central Park
and St. James, Belgravia, and Fountain Courts. William H.
Slaughter bought the area south of Central Park after the exposition
closed in 1887 and formed the Victoria Land Company, which sold the
property lots. Slaughter designed the center greens and ordered
the fountain and lions. The two resting lions at each end of the
Court were to "guard" Magnolia (then called Victoria Place) at
Sixth Street. Picture,
early St. James Court

It
is 1903 and the evening is warm for October. The premiere of
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" has been a smashing
success. Mrs. Rice made a lovely speech afterward. Now it's
time to end an already unforgettable evening by attending the reception
at the Conrad's.
There's Sarah Henning from Fourth Avenue
going up the walk, and here come the Moxleys from Belgravia Court.
Do you have your invitation? The Butler is opening the
door. Let's go in!

Also known as "Conrad's Castle," this is one of the most
magnificent of Old Louisville's houses and defines Richardsonian
Romanesque architecture. The building price was $35,000.
Walk around it and enjoy its gargoyles, swags, massive arches and
fleur-de-lis. The Caldwell family purchased it in 1905 after Mr.
Conrad's death. They lived there for 35 years.
It next served as the Rose Anna Hughes Presbyterian (nursing) Home for
40 years. The St. James Court Association purchased it in
1987. It is open from noon-4 PM Sunday through Wednesday (from 10
on Saturday) at a minimal charge (phone 636-5032). Some
period furnishings are original to the house. More info with picture

2.

1412
St. James Court (1898)Neo-Colonial Revival with Arts and Crafts
motifs
John P. Starks, haberdasher

The stairwell is burled tiger maple, and the woodwork in the house is
mahogany. Architectural features are it's compact, massive,
hipped roof and central entry with a portico.

The oldest known building in Old Louisville was originally a summer
house and was moved from its original location in Central Park. A
private garden of trees and wild flowers shields this quaint building
from the Court traffic.

The Venetian Gothic influence is evident here. The painted
terra-cotta façade was first made into molds and then baked. Note
the treatment at the roof, the unusual scroll around the third floor
windows, and the handsome leaded glass window on the south side.
Mary Alice Hadley began making her famous pottery in the hayloft of the
carriage house. Hadley Pottery is now located at 1570 Story
Avenue. picture

5.

The
St. James Fountain

Since the late 1800's, this Victorian landmark has been a favorite with
both neighborhood residents and visitors. The original fountain
was cast iron. After several efforts to halt deterioration, the
residents of the Court decided to have the fountain dismantled and
recast in bronze. After 3 years, the Fine Arts Sculpture Center in
Michigan returned the fountain, and a special dedication ceremony was
held in 1975. Picture

This 2½ story brick house has a round entry portico set beneath a
rounded bay. It was purchased in 1907 by Madison Cawein,
Kentucky's first poet laureate. Cawein was a member of the
thriving artistic and literary community in the area and was often
called the Audubon of Poetry because of his many poems about nature.

In later years the house was owned by the Mormon Church, and regular
services were held here. The current owner has long been a leader
in historic preservation in Old Louisville and helped establish the
Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.

8.

1444
St. James Court (1910)Neo-Colonial Revival
Cale Young Rice, poet

Cale Young Rice was a successful poet and dramatist. His wife was
Alice Hegan Rice (1870-1942), author of the turn-of-the-century best
seller, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. The book was
made into a play, which opened in 1903 at the Macauley Theater.
Shirley Temple starred in one movie version.

Originally built by the Victoria Land Company, it is one of three joined
houses. Above the portico rises a polyonat turret.
Note the patterns in the front brick walk.

At the
intersection of Belgravia Court, turn east and continue along the south
side of Belgravia. As you walk down Belgravia Court, observe it's
charm. Walking courts are unique to Louisville, and Belgravia was
the City's first walking Court

This was built as the St. James Club Casino, a private club for
residents of St. James and Belgravia. There were tennis courts in
the rear. It was later owned by the Women's Christian Temperance
Union. One of its more colorful residents was George H.
"Eardrum" Wilson, so nicknamed for his invention of an early
hearing device. "Eardrum" was also the first
person on the Court to own an automobile. Renovation added
an in-ground pool, brick wall, and leaded glass in the
turret. Picture

11.

422
Belgravia Court (1892-1893)Eclectic with Neo-Classical motif
John H. Pearson, renter, and City of Louisville engineer

A terra-cotta panel with relief work centers the façade at the second
story. An open, recessed loggia at the third floor has small Ionic
columns.

The turret is the most significant feature. It is said to be one
of the oldest structures in Old Louisville, having been built before the
Southern Exposition. The tiny square glasses in the window were
popular in the 1880's.

24.

1415
South 4th Street (1893)H. H. Wolfe, wholesale clothing

On the right side of the dwelling, the wall and windows are designed so
each room receives sunlight.

25.

1411
South 4th Street (1887)Victorian Town House
Herman Beckers, owner of Anderson and Nelson Distillers

Outstanding features are the arched windows on all three floors and the
stained glass window on the south side. The interior has a redwood
Jacuzzi on the first floor. Once divided into 12 apartments,
the house is once again a single-family dwelling.

The home is patterned after the urban palaces of Italy. In the
early 1900's, the side porch and brick walls were added. The
garden was designed in 1910 by the renowned firm of Frederick Law
Olmstead. Dr. Stuart Robinson was an important minister, and a
Presbyterian church at Sixth St. and Magnolia Ave. was named for him.

28.

1381
South 4th Street (1897)Classical Revival
Sarah K. Henning, widow

The right section of the façade projects in a circular bay with two
windows on each floor and has the same decorative treatment as the left
section.

One of the building's outstanding features is a whimsical, mustachioed
face resting on a swag and topped by affronted scrolls bearing a
torch. Inside, there is a grand oak staircase and parquet floors
edged in differing ribbon patterns. The structure is a wonderful
example of the exuberance of design found in the Victorian era.

30.

1371
South 4th Street (1887)Colonial Revival
Mary K Cummins, widow

A group of beautiful leaded glass windows rounds the corner of the
building. The three story enclosed porch and the first story bay
window were added to this six-condominium dwelling during renovation.

Multi-colored tiles decorate the transom above the second floor windows.
The cornice of the dormer is accented by medallions of pressed tin,
which may have adorned the façade at one time. Art glass is in
the central roof gable. The front porch has a marble ceiling.

32.

1349
South 4th Street (1886)Eclectic
Catherine M. Short, widow

A Queen Anne style is characterized by the decorative brick, varied roof
line, and lack of symmetry. The visual effectiveness of the home
lies in the variety of planes used.

At the
intersection of Park Avenue, cross over Fourth Street, then walk south
back toward Belgravia Court.

33.

1400
South 4th Street (1895)St. Paul Episcopal Church
Gothic Revival

It is delicately detailed with numerous stained glass windows and a
cloister-like porch on the façade. Its architect, Arthur Loomis,
also designed the Conrad-Caldwell House. In 1991, it was
purchased by the West End Baptist Church.

Note the hearts on the window balcony, the sculpted keys and urns on
each side of the walkway, and the Greek goddess faces in the
architecture. A later owner, Mrs. Kirtley Cleveland, then
President of the St. James Court Association, solved the problem of
people parking on the center greens by letting air out of their
tires. As a child, she wrote Oh Ye Jigs and Juleps, a
collection of humorous essays.

39.

1445
St. James Court (1892)Eclectic
Thomas H. Slaughter

Marguerite Gifford, a well-known artist, lived here with her husband for
many years. In addition to her paintings, she was famous for
her watermelon pickles recipe. This is one of the earliest
residences on the Court.

40.

1443
St. James Court (1900)Eclectic
R. B. Hickman

Extensive renovation has been done, with one result being the discovery
of an early mural on the dining room wall.

This dwelling has been returned to its original use as a town house
duplex.

42.

Fountain
Court was originally called Fountain Place in reference
to the St. James Fountain. The walking court is near the site of
the main entrance to the Southern Exposition.

43.

1433-1435
St. James Court (1897)Eclectic
Theophilus Conrad, Tanner

St. James Flats was originally six stories high and appeared a high rise
compared to the elegant three story private homes on the Court.
Court residents sued Mr. Conrad when it was first built. Conrad
won because the judge ruled it was a residence, not a commercial
building. In 1912, a fire damaged the top floors so badly that
they were removed and the roof line redesigned.

The terra-cotta trim compliments the red brick. Extensive
renovation began in 1978. A later owner wrote several
cookbooks for the Courier-Journal newspaper and for Southern Living
magazine, and is the founder of Kentucky Bed and Breakfast.

The Trabue's daughter, Lucinda Brent, was a later resident of this
home. She was known for her parties and was called the "Queen
of St. James Court."

46.

1415
St. James Court (1905)The Milton ApartmentsColonial with Arts & Crafts
John Milton, Secretary of The Courier JournalThis is a fine example of an early twentieth-century apartment
house. The central staircase, viewed through the Palladian window,
is breathtaking. Five mayors resided in St. James Court, one of
whom lived here.

The tour
ends at the intersection of St. James Court and Magnolia Avenue